Would the compound K2O be considered solute in water?

Would the compound BaSO4 be considered solute in water?

yes and yes.

Although BaSO4 is only very slightly soluble (about 2 mg/L)

To determine whether a compound is considered a solute in water, we need to first understand the definition of a solute and how it behaves in a solution.

A solute is a substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution. In the case of water, which is a highly polar solvent, substances that are ionic or polar in nature tend to dissolve easily.

Now let's consider the two compounds you mentioned:

1. K2O (potassium oxide): This compound consists of potassium (K+) cations and oxide (O2-) anions. Since both ions are highly polar, they have a high affinity for water molecules and readily dissolve in water. Therefore, K2O would be considered a solute in water.

2. BaSO4 (barium sulfate): This compound consists of barium (Ba2+) cations and sulfate (SO42-) anions. Unlike K2O, barium sulfate is highly insoluble in water and does not readily dissolve. Thus, BaSO4 would not be considered a solute in water.

In summary, K2O would be considered a solute in water, while BaSO4 would not dissolve easily and therefore would not be considered a solute in water.